Orthopaedics

Orthopaedic Physiotherapy is the oldest branch of physiotherapy and is oriented towards the treatment of Musculo – Skeletal ailments. It involves regaining appropriate health and function of structures surrounding the Joint regions and normalizing the Biomechanics following any injury or Orthopaedic disease. The rehabilitation of Orthopedically disabled individuals is also a major area of function

As in all other forms of physiotherapy, an orthopaedic physio works to improve your quality of life by restoring your mobility, co-ordination, confidence, and self sufficiency. With musculoskeletal injuries, there are a number of routes through which a physio can achieve these goals. Your therapist will always conduct an assessment of their own to establish how best to treat you before going on to arranging your rehabilitation.

Pain is a major issue which is sometimes inadequately dealt with by medication. Whether because of contra-indications or simply long term use and hence tolerance, the consequences of pain are unpleasant for both a patient and their loved ones. Physios can manage your pain using techniques like deep tissue massage, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and manipulations. In the longer term, functional rehabilitation reduces pain by making movements easier.

This functional rehabilitation involve relieving stiffness and restoring range of movement, goals achieved by gradually working injured structures more and more whilst being careful not to overwork them and hence exacerbate the condition. A physiotherapist will use any tools at their disposal to help you regain functionality. Splints or braces can be used to support slight movement at the beginning, followed by resistance training using either small weights or resistance bands. This type of training sees you move the affected area in a range of motions with some resistance to strengthen and build the muscles of both the injury and the surrounding (and hence stabilising) area. Physio’s will often also use underwater exercises and Swiss balls to train stability and balance, both of which are tools for recovery and prevention of any future injury.

The list of specific physical injuries that an orthopaedic physiotherapist could expect to treat would be an extremely long one, and it would be more appropriate to discuss the commonly occurring conditions they might treat in more general terms. Muscular problems are one such issue, and can range in severity from simple overuse or hyperextension, to a stage three muscular strain, in which the muscle is ruptured resulting in immediate and debilitating pain and loss of functionality. Muscles can tear due to hyperextension because of exercise or trauma, either of which would be treated by a physio in due course.

The world of skeletal treatment is a far ranging and complicated one, and almost all skeletal problems will have to be rehabilitated by a physical therapist to some extent. This is because the bones and joints most susceptible to injury are the ones on which we must rely for day to day activity. In this category it’s not just bones that are affected however, the skeletal system is actually also composed of a host of other components designed to facilitate a broad range of movement without damage. These include ligaments (which connect bone to bone), tendons (linking bone to muscle), cartilage (a material used to reduce friction between bones), and the Synovial fluid (found in sacs, this is a gel fluid that serves to lubricate movement between bones).

Typical skeletal issues include inflammation of components like the hip or wrist because of arthritis, a condition which can be chronic, degenerative, and painful, resulting in a gradual loss of mobility if not treated by both a physician and physiotherapist. Similarly inflammation of either the tendons (e.g. Achilles Tendonitis) or the Bursae (Bursitis) can be painful and debilitating, and it is only through medical treatment followed by carefully structured rehabilitation that proper usage can be restored.

Fractures can range from simple breaks in the bone to skin piercing compound fractures which leave many bone fragments that, if not treated properly, will either not recover or heal improperly. Fractures of the shin (Tibia) or thigh (Femur) bones can often be quite severe, leaving you unable to walk.

Our Approach

Please feel free to contact me at any time to ask a question about your condition and I will try to be of assistance to you as fast as possible, in some extreme cases a home visit may be required, or a simple online consultation may clear up and questions you may have.
We are only too happy to help and look forward to hearing from you.

Our Location

We are conveniently located in the centre of the market town of Bingham, centrally located opposite the doctors surgery. We are able to cover the whole of Nottinghamshire and further afield into the Vale of Belvoir and surrounding areas. With free private parking through the arch to the rear of the building making it easy to visit us why not arrange a visit to assess your needs, call us now on 01949 831648 to speak to a professional for advice on treatment.